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TREATISE 



BREEDING OF ANIMALS, 



OTHER MATTERS INTERESTING TO FARMERS. 



BY JAMES GLENN, 

AUTHOR OP A PAMPHLET ENTITCeD " THE REAL NATURE OP THE ELECTRIC 

FLUID, AND THE CAUSE OF THE POLARITY OF THE MAGNET:" MEMBER 

OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTION ESTABLISHED AT WASHINGTON, 

FOR THE PROMOTION OF SCIENCE. 



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<^ UTICA: 

O. Hutchinson, Publisher, 41 Genesee-Steeet, Utica. 

R. Northway, Printer. 

1842. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by James Glenn, 
in the Clerk's Office of the Northern District of New- York. 



PREFACE. 

In writing the few following pages, we have heen 
as guarded in our expressions as the nature of the 
subject would admit, and we are confident that any 
person whatever, may read them with advantage and 
profit. But should some people think them unfit to 
be read by very young people, we have only to say, 
that they were not intended for them, and they have 
been addressed to a class of men, who, from their 
profession and their time of life, are superior to being 
influenced in a malign manner by any coarse expres- 
sion of ours, or disposed to jeer and joke on subjects 
of such practical utility. 

It has been said, that the man who causes two ears 
of wheat to grow where formerly there grew only 
one, confers a great benefit on mankind. We do not 
aspire to this honor : but if we have pointed out a 
mode by which the various races of Domestic Ani- 
mals may be greatly improved, we confess that we 
should be disposed to feel not a little proud, should it 
be confirmed by experience, and it would give us 
more sincere gratification than if we had written the 
most eloquent and most meritorious essay on politics, 
morality, or literature that ever was penned. 



ESSAY. 



ON THE EFFECTS OP SIMILAR AND DISSIMILAR DISPOSITIONS 
AS REGARDS THE SEXES. 

In forming Matrimonial Alliances is it necessary or desirable, 
that the sexes should possess similar habits, tastes, manners and 
dispositions 1 

It is an iniiversally received opinion that persons imiting in 
marriage, ought to possess similar tastes, manners and disposi- 
tions, and that the happiest unions are formed where this is the 
case. Wc dispute this doctrine, and we maintain that the case is 
entirely the reverse, and that the happiest alliances are those 
formed, where the dispositions and tempers are opposed ; and we 
also contend that it is the intention of nature that it should be so, 
both for the happiness of the individuals and the benefit of their 
offspring. Combe in his constitution of Man, as well as other 
phrenological writers recommends young men to observe the de- 
velopments of the heads of females, and to select those that pos- 
sess faculties the most nearly resembling themselves. Without 
at all attempting to undervalue or dispute the correctness of the 
science of phrenology, as we fully believe that the principles of 
the science are founded on truth, we may remark, that in our judg- 
ment this piece of advice is wrong, and that young people would 
do better without any such advice, by choosing those partners for 
life for which they may have contracted the greatest regard — a 
regard that has not been induced too suddenly, but has arisen 
gradually by repeated observation and intimacy. This is the way 
most generally followed, and notwithstanding exceptions, we be- 
lieve the great majority of mankind look back with sincere pleas- 
ure on this part of their conduct. Rules and regulations and 
particular signs are never regarded by a lover when applied to 
his mistress, nor probably never will be ; and they do^better when 
left to follow the dictates of their own judgment and inclinations, 
than if they adhered, and strictly followed the instructions of the 
wisest philosophers that ever lived. Mr. Combe remarks fur- 



6 

iher, in the work alluded to, when speaking of the fine Iiead of 
Melancthon — What, he asks, would be the consequence, if such 
a fine person were Avedded to such a mean, worthless woman ? — 
alluding to a woman of an opposite character. We entertain the 
opinion that in this case the consequence would not be so bad as 
surmised, from the circumstance that the talents and dispositions 
of the parties were diflerent ; and the oflspring of such an union 
would be more likely to partake of the qualities of their father 
than their mother, if the person in question had married a being 
equal, and similar in talents and disposition and every other re- 
spect to himself, the alliance would be more likely to be unhappy, 
and the children would be far inferior to both parents. This may 
appear surprising, but we will give our reasons in support of the 
assertion. 

Young men admire those qualities in a friend of their sex that 
are similar to their own, but they respect those the most in a wo- 
man that are the reverse ; and this they do, both with regard to 
their mental and physical qualifications. A tall man is apt to 
choose a woman of low stature ; a choleric person loves a fe- 
male of a mild, easy disposition ; a learned -gentleman dislikes 
to see his lady spending her time in perusing books and newspa- 
pers ; a robust, athletic individual prefers a young woman of a 
more slender frame. All these statements may be reversed, and 
yet our argument applies v/ith equal force ; as a man of low stature 
choose a w^oman that is tall ; a person of a mild, easy disposition 
prefers a female of a quick, lively turn ; an illiterate individual 
delights to sees his lady engaged in reading and other literary 
occupations ; a gentleman of a slight, delicate frame of body na- 
turally selects a young woman of a robust, energetic constitution. 
A great many examples of the above remarks might be pointed 
out in real life, to substantiate our views ; but they are doubtless 
within the recollection of every individual. We will, however, 
mention an anecdote of Sir W alter Scott, that may serve to illus- 
trate our views. Sir Walter Scott was walking in the fields one 
day with his lady, when observing some lambs in a playful, spor- 
tive mood, he remarked — ■" It is no wonder that ancient authors 
alluded to the lamb as an emblem of innocence." Mrs. Scott re- 
plied — " They are very good with mint sauce." The great au- 
thor, being a learned man, was pleased with this reply ; so much 
so that he thought the joke too good to be lost, and related it to 



7 

one of his neighbors. It was too characteristic and too feminine 
not to have been delighted with it. And we venture to affirm 
that his dehght was arrcatcr than if he had been answered in a 
learned, pathetic style, delivered with great judgment and pathos, 
by some of our most gifted ladies. On the contrary, had Sir 
Walter been a man having no particular regard for literature, and 
possessed but a very ordinary share of learning, he would have 
felt quite proud at hearing a learned harangue delivered by his 
wife on the innocence of the lamb. It is probably owing to this 
circumstance, why very few learned men relish the writings of 
ladies. 

It is not pretended that a person with a good disposition ought 
to select a partner with bad propensities. We only affirm that 
they ought to be different, and each person may possess good 
qualities although of an opposite nature. An individual of Her- 
culean trength may not marry a weak, unhealthy female, but only 
one that is much less robust, or one that combines lightness with 
agility. I have often observed that the children of parents who 
were both of great bodily strength were apt to be marred in some 
respects, and were very subject to paralysis. We have observed 
this as a general occurrence, although there may be a great many- 
exceptions. It is probably owing to this very condition, why the 
offspring of parents that are nearly related in blood, are most 
generally defective, the habits and dispositions of the parents be- 
ing nearly alike ; as they are much more apt to be so than stran- 
gers. I am aware that the individuals of a family sometimes dif- 
fer very much from one another ; this may be the case, but still 
they agree in a good many traits of character ; there ia what is 
called a family likeness, both in features and dispositions. Combe, 
in his work already alluded to, says that the royal family of Spain 
intermarry with their kindred, and are consequently a very infe- 
rior race. He calls this violating an organic law ; that is, it is a 
law of our natures that people nearly alUed in blood ought not to 
marry ; but it is somewhat strange that the author did not per- 
ceive that the cause of this might be owing to their dispositions 
being nearly the same. If we leave individuals and examine na- 
tions, tribes and even the inhabitants of cities, towns, villages and 
particular districts of country, we will find the same observations 
to hold good. If any of these places remain excluded from the 
rest of the world, they continue an inferior race, and even to re- 



8 

trograde ; but the moment that they open an intercourse with the 
rest of the vvorltl, by means of commerce or any other mode, 
they immediately advance in the scale of civilization and become 
both mentally and physically improved. This is no doubt part- 
ly effected by the inhabitants intermarrying with foreigners and 
adopting their good customs and manners. Commerce undoubt- 
edly brings some evil in its train ; but upon the whole, it is a 
blessing. In the different cities in Britain, some are remarkable 
for fine looking men and butvery indifferent women, while others 
again are famed for fine, handsome women and but very inferior 
men. Perhaps there are not a finer set of men in the British 
dominions than those that may be seen in the city of Glasgow ; 
and yet it is confessed that the female part of the population are 
but very indifferent looking ; generally pale and of low stature. 
The case is entirely the reverse in the city of Edinburgh, the male 
part of the population being much inferior in appearance to the 
females. A similar remark applies to the city of New-York in the 
United States, as that of Glasgow in Scotland. Perhaps there 
are not in America a finer, portly looking set of men than the 
New-Yorkers ; and yet their women are confessedly far inferior 
in appearance to those in Philadelphia and other places. 

These statements go to confirm our assertion, that an intercourse 
with foreigners improves the race of mankind, and this it does, 
because the tastes and habits of the parties are dissimilar. These 
statements also show, that when the good qualities of the male 
part of the population predominate, the male children will inherit 
the virtues of their father. If, on the conti-ary, the excellent 
qualities of the female part of the population preponderate, the 
female children will inherit the virtues of their mother. 

Among Indian tribes and communities of colored people, the 
half breeds are esteemed the best part of the population. 

It was remarked by Dr. Franklin, that there is no such princi- 
ple as natural afi'ection. In this, the Doctor was right, for it is 
undoubtedly an acquired habit. Philosophically speaking, there 
is no natural afi'ection existing between man and man, or breth- 
ren ; it is an acquired habit. But we are pretty certain that there 
exists in human nature both a natural affection and a natural dis- 
like, as regards the sexes ; that is, a young man of a well regu- 
lated taste naturally dislikes a female whose habits and peculiari- 
ties most nearly resemble himself; and the design of nature in 



thus acting is to prevent the union in marriage of persons con- 
sanguineously related. It sometimes happens that the members 
of a family, both male and female, get separated when very young 
and mix at large with the world. After a number of years they 
lose all recollection of the identity of one another. In such case?, 
a brother and sister might be apt to marry did there not exist a 
natural rej^ugnance to each other, arising from possessing the 
same propensities. "We have read of but one instance of a 
brother and sister marrying without being aware of their relation- 
ship. This occurred in the New England States, as recorded in 
the newspapers, and the parties separated after learning the fact. 
We should think such an occurrence might happen frequently 
were there not something else implanted in human nature besides 
the mere power to recollect each other's identity. 

If wejleave the human race and descend to the lower orders of 
animals, we will find the same law to hold good as that we have 
just been speaking of, although it is not quite so apparent in some 
races of animals. Some people who are not familiar with beasts, 
are apt to imagine that there is very little difference in individ- 
uals of the same species, either in disposition or form. This is a 
great mistake, for it is well known that there is a marked diver- 
sity, both in their nature and features, in every single one of the 
race. It is said a shepherd can recognize each one of the flock, 
while another person can hardly perceive any more dissimilarity 
than there is between one egg and another. In all domestic ani- 
iTials the male or female ha no choice ; that is, they do not fol- 
low in every instance the instincts of their nature. But the art of 
man supplies the deficiency. Men who are in the habit of rais- 
ing animals of the domestic kind ought never to attempt to raise 
from a male or female both of which inherit the same qualities — a 
breed equal to the parents. They ought rather to select those of 
which the propensities are different, and each quality good of its 
kind. 

As we consider this subject of great importance to farmers, we 
will be a little more particular, and will select the Horse as the 
subject of our argument, as greater pains are taken with him than 
almost any other animal. If it is desired to raise a breed of great 
strength, it will not answer the purpose to put a great, stout, large 
boned' mare to a horse equally strong, as the colt will turn out to 
be inferior to both parents. An experienced breeder will select a 

. 2 



10 

mare for the horse much inferior in strength, but possessing some 
other excellent qualities. The offspring will then resemble the 
horse, or possess the good qualities of both parents. It is well 
known to farmers, that if a poor, indifferent looking mare is ta- 
ken to a fine, stately horse, the colt will uniformly resemble its 
male parent. Farmers are aware of this fact, but probably never 
gave themselves the trouble to enquire into the cause. All men 
can observe occurrences, or effects, but few are at the trouble to 
trace them to their origin. 

The remark that Ave have applied above, as regards the strength 
of horses, will also apply to any other quality that might be nam- 
ed. If the temper of the horse is iflsmarkably docile, it is not a 
good mode of acting to take a mare to him of a mild disposition. 
She ought rather to be fiery and quick, and the temper of the off- 
spring has a better chance of being modified accordingly. An 
experienced breeder can generally discover at a single glance 
those mares that are calculated to make the best breeders. Lon^, 
practice in their profession has enabled them to do this ; but their 
knowledge extends only to one particular, and has no relation to 
the qualities of the offspring. That particular is a peculiar form 
and texture that is not too firmly knit, nor too loose ; but posses- 
sing a happy medium. Such mares are not so liable to accidents 
during the time of foaling, nor any time previous. 

It would be superfluous in us to enumerate any more particular 
qualities in horses, as these will be sufficient to elucidate our 
views. There is one law, however, relating to consanguinity, 
upon which we will make a few remarks. Its eflects in regard to 
the human race have already been shown ; and the existence of 
the same law can be clearly traced through all the various races 
of domestic animals. It appears to us that consanguinity is not 
sufficiently attended to by farmers in the raising of animals. A 
horse that remains for a series of years in one neighborhood for 
the purpose of receiving mares, as is frequently the case, must oc- 
casionally have his own offspring brought to him ; which circum- 
stance would have a great tendency to deteriorate ihe race. This, 
however, cannot happen so often with the race of horses as it 
must Avith cows, sheep, &c. Farmers generally recollect the pa- 
rent of their foals, and it is only in the event of their selling them 
to their neighbors, that such an occurrence might happen. We 
are here speaking on the supposition, that farmers are aware of 



11 

the evil tendency of such practices. We are afraid, however, 
that the great majority of agriculturists are quite unconscious of 
any impropriety in so acting. A few, indeed, are aware that the 
males of all animals ought to be changed frequently, because they 
have ascertained that the race is improved by crossing. But they 
seem never to have imagined, thatby associating animals together 
nearly alUed in blood, the breed will degenerate. It is sometimes 
the case with farmers, to keep a whole litter of pigs together — 
boars and sows, along with their female parent, and allow them 
to breed in this maftiner. This is a very pernicious practice, and 
the stock must speedily run out. The males of all animals ought 
to be changed as frequently as possible, and their places supplied 
from a considerable distance, so that there may be less chance of 
having their own progeny brought to them. A bull is often rear- 
ed and kept several years in the same neighborhood, and has 
cows brought to him promiscuously from every quarter. This 
practice, if persisted in without crossing, must speedily lead to 
the decay of the race ; for a bull in such cases must often have 
not only his own offspring, but even his own parent brought to 
him. The same is the case with sheep and hogs, and even our 
domestic fowls, which, on account of their young coming very soon 
to maturity, ought to have the males changed once a year. A 
horse kept for breeding ought to be changed every three years, 
and a bull every two years. 

If these hints were attended to, we are confident the breed 
would be greatly improved, and there would be fewer complaints 
of their stock running out. It is very remarkable what a decided 
improvement takes place after the introduction of a foreign male 
into any kind of domestic animals ; a visible and decided improve- 
ment quickly takes place. I have heard it repeatedly remarked, 
that there are frequent instances of wild and domestic animals 
keeping company, and the young of such alliances were decided- 
ly superior to those where both parties were domestic animals. — 
If any person chooses to prove the truth of these remarks, let 
him introduce a new and foreign cock into his brood of hens, and 
he will soon perceive a superior race of chickens growing up. 
No wonder that our farmers have a puny, degenerate race of fowls, 
when they keep a cock of their own raising from year to year, 
and pay no kind of attention to them whatever. 

The evil effects resulting from animals of different sexes unitinsf 



12 

.ogether are more apparent and decided in the human race than 
in the lower orders of creation. In those, bhndness, lameness, 
and general deformity are visible in the offspring ; and if this is 
not the case, there is great imbecility both mental and physical. 
In these, the progeny is not often deformed or defective in or- 
ganization ; but the decay of energy and spirit, and all the good 
qualities for which the race are distinguished, are very obvious. 

We will now enquire by what means the various races of wild 
animals are preserved from degenerating. They receive no as- 
sistance from the art of man, and derive no benefits whatever from 
his care : so there must exist something that prevents the decay 
of the kind. In perusing Natural History, we will find that du- 
ring the sexual season with brute creatures, the males have fierce 
and bloody fights, and the strongest and mostrobustof them must 
of course acquire the ascendancy. Here, then, is a law that is 
very general, that the strongest and best males should be preser- 
ved, while those less so should be destroyed. In fact, this law 
Avould be enforced by some of our domestic animals did not the 
art of man prevent it ; and in fact, it takes place with our domestic 
fowls ; for if two cocks are raised from one brood, they both 
fight until the stronger destroys the weaker. Captain Parry says, 
in his Journal of his voyage to the Northern Seas, that in numer- 
ous herds of Musk oxen that they witnessed, they never could 
discover but one or two males with a herd. From this he infer- 
red that the males destroyed one another in their fights for their 
favorites. During the aforesaid seasons, some females depart 
from their tribe and remain absent several days, no doubt seeking 
a male at a distance. This mode of acting is what may be called 
crossing the breed ; so the art of man is only an imitation of na- 
ture. Sometimes a female, as is the case with wolves, will run 
off with two or three males, who engage in desperate struggles 
until they kill one another ; or sometimes the she wolf will steal 
off with her favorite while the others are asleep. This is certainly 
exerting something like a choice in the female. 

Durino- the sexual seasons, all animals are in the habit of de- 
parting to great distances in search of males, and no doubt, in 
this manner the breed get mixed, and the race preserved in its 
pristine purity. 

The habits of solitary animals are not so well described by 
naturalists, as those that are gregarious ; but in all probability the 



13 

females of those go likewise to a distance to seek for males, and 
consequently tiiere would be less danger of the kind being deteri- 
orated by nearness of blood. Wild animals and fowls, particu- 
larly those that are solitary, never keep company with their young 
after they are able to provide for themselves, but on being ap- 
proached by them they bite and otherwise punish them severely. 

There is one law existing amongst fowls that bears so close an 
analogy to the institution of marriage amongst mankind, that it 
deserves particular notice. We allude to the pairing of birds. 
Each bird chooses its own partner ; they both unite in building 
a nest, take turns in hatching the eggs, and while the female is 
setting, the male, (if a singing bird,) soothes and comforts her with 
his song. It is very probable that these birds do not select their 
partners at random, but are guided by taste or instinct ; and this 
instinct would not lead thsm (no more than it does in the human 
race,) to choose their own offspring or parent. 

We think we have now clearly shown, that it is the design of 
nature that persons or animals nearly allied in blood ought not 
to be united, and that it is this law that preserves the race entire. 

We believe the law relating to consanguinity can be traced no 
further downwards in the scale than the animal creation. There 
is nothing analogous that we can perceive in plants or minerals. 
Two metals uniting will beget a third totally unlike both parent 
substances ; such is the case with zinc and copper, which produ- 
ces bi'ass. Two chemical substances uniting, as an acid and an 
alkali, will produce a neuter salt, partaking of the nature of both 
parents. Thus affinity resembles love in the animal species, and 
is perhaps the only operation that can with any propriety be 
termed intelligence in inorganic matter. 

A plant always produces seed, and this seed being sown, be- 
comes uniformly like the parent stock. There is here no trace 
whatever like relationship. It is true there is some analogy in 
the mode of propagating the kind, both in plants and animals, and 
it is on this circumstance that the Linnaean System of Botany is 
founded. 

We shall not extend our arguments any further on this subject ; 
but shall conclude by making a few observations on the nature of 
plants ; observations that are not generally known to farmers, and 
some of importance that have entirely escaped the observations 
of agriculturists. We have already remarked that the mode by 



14 

which plants are propagated bears some resemblance to that of 
animals. As most farmers know nothing about the system of Bo- 
tany we will explain that subject a little, and will select the Indi- 
an corn plant as an example. Before this plant comes to maturi- 
ty it spindles out, and this is what is commonly called its top. — 
This top as it comes to maturity elaborates a kind of dust or pol- 
len. The next process is what is called the tasselUng of the plant, 
which consists of a bunch of long, slender filaments. The pol- 
len or dust from the top is shed down upon these, and passing 
along the filamants, they become impregnated and produce seed. 
This is what is called, in the language of Botany, the female part 
of the plant, and the top is called the male part. AVithout this 
operation there would be no seed produced. Farmers ought on 
this account to be very careful and not cut the tops of their corn 
too early, as they may do it material injury. All plants whatever 
perform the same operation ; but some have the parts differently 
situated. A great variety of herbs and plants have the organs 
that are analogous to the top and tassel of Indian corn all in one 
flower cup ; while other plants and trees produce male flowers on 
one and female flowers on another. In the making of hay, agri- 
culturists ought to observe when their grass begins to blow, and 
they ought to be careful not to cut it down until after it has blos- 
somed ; for in that case it will contain too much juice, and would 
be liable to get brittle and musty ; neither should it be kept grow- 
ing until the seed is perfected, as the stem would then be too dry 
and hard. Great damage is often done to wheat during its period 
of flowerin<T, if it be very wet weather, as the rain dissipates the 
pollen of the flower and diminishes its strength, and also prevents 
in some decree its shedding, so that the operation is prevented 
altogether or performed in an imperfect manner, and a diminished 
or false kernel is very often the consequence. Farmers are very 
much perplexed in Great Britain in consequence of wet weather ; 
but in America it is much less frequent. I have frequently obser- 
ved in the former country that some plants and herbs of a wild 
nature come to blow with great profusion and beauty, but produce 
no seed ; while in America, there are but few plants but that 
produce seed, although they do not blow with such profusion. — 
There can be no doubt but this is partly owing to the superabun- 
dance of wet weather in Britain and dry weather in the U. States. 
The most important occupation of a farmer relates to the 



15 

changing of the soil for all kinds of grains, vegetables and grasses. 
Wheat requires a change of soil oftener than any other kind of 
grain. Few soils can produce over two or three crops in succes- 
sion. Of all the cultivated herbs, we believe the family of gi-asses 
can be produced on the same soil oftener than any other. It is 
the opinion of all agriculturists that the cause of this circum- 
stance is the impoverishment of the land on which they are raised. 
This, we contend, is not the fact ; for philosophically speaking 
the ground is not impoverished ; it is only rendered unfit for that 
particular kind of grain and its ability to produce other kinds is 
as good as ever. The real cause we consider to be this ; every 
kind of plant whatever, requires a peculiar substance for its ex- 
istence ; as for instance, wheat requires a particular nutriment, 
oats another of a different kind, and potatoes a third. AVhen the 
plant exhausts the substance necessary to its existence, it dies and 
another kind of plant succeeds, and that in its turn exhausts its 
peculiar substance and also dies, and so on ad infinitum. This 
is the process of nature, and the art of man is only an imitation. 
It is true he can impart the substance to the land by manurino- it 
well, and in this consists the superiority of man over nature. 

When a piece of land is reclaimed from the forest, it is called 
new, while strictly speaking it is as old as any other. It has sup- 
ported a growth of trees for a great length of time, and they take 
as much nourishment from the soil as any other growth. Some 
indeed, strike their roots deep into the ground and draw nourish- 
ment from a great depth, but others again, as the beech, for in- 
stance, spread their roots near the surface. The land so reclaim- 
ed may, indeed, be called new to a particular kind of grain, but 
not new of itself, except it was reclaimed from the ocean, or a 
river, upon which nothing had grown. Hence the needless lam- 
entations of the great agriculturists of Europe, about their land 
being old and exhibiting symptoms of being worn out, while in 
fact it may be as capable of producing good crops of that parti- 
cular kind of grain to which it has not been accustomed, as that 
land just reclaimed from the forest. 

The order of nature in the succession of plants, as we have ob- 
served it in the state of New-York, appears to be this : Grass will 
grow affording a succession of crops, for about ten years ; it then 
begins to decay and is supplanted by the strawberry plant ; these 
last after a while give way to the raspberry and other kinds of 



16 

briers, and these at last have their places usurped by trees of the 
hard wood kind, such as maple, beech, &c. It would seem from 
history and the recorded observations of authors, that these last 
are supplanted by pine and others of that family, and that after 
the pine has exhausted its substance, the soil is resumed again by 
hard wood trees.* I have been informed by several farmers re- 
siding in the pine district in the neighborhood of Albany, that 
there are more hard wood trees growing in their pine lots than 
was formerly the case, and this circumstance they aver, has occur- 
red within their recollection. 

These statements explain the circumstance why there are 
large tracts of country covered with pine, that according to his- 
tory, was formerly occupied by trees of a hard wood kind. Mr. 
Mudee, in his book entitled, " Hints to the observance of Nature," 
says at Fort Hind, (a place in Scotland,) there grew a field of 
pine, larch and others of that nature, which had a very healthful, 
growing appearance and promised to do well. In a short time 
they began to decay and speedily withered, and in a few years 
not a vestige of them was to be seen. This circumstance excited 
the .astonishment of the author, for which he could not account. 
But the circumstance, in our judgment, is easily explained. They 
speedily exhausted the substance in the soil necessary to their 
growth and then withered and fell to pieces, and probably the 
soil possessed only a small quantity, which they speedily ex- 
hausted. 



* It is a general complaint among farmers, that their plum trees decay af- 
ter bearing fruit four or five years, when formerly they used to thrive for fif- 
teen years. The cause of this is very evident: instead of procuring plants or 
seeds of a new species and planting them in new ground, they allow the 
sprouts of the old decayed tree to spread and grow, wliich of course, according 
to the principles that we have described, cannot bear fruit tor any length of 
time, as they have exhausted the substance of the soil necessary to their 
growth. 



17 

The following letter was sent to the Editor of the Madison Ob- 
server. As we conceive it to be of some use to farmers, We insert 
it here in the same form in which it was sent to the Editor. 

Messrs. Editors : — Perceiving from an advertisement in your paper that 
a Society has been formed for the highly laudable purpose of promoting Ag- 
riculture, we take the liberty of sending you these few lines, hoping the sug- 
gestions they contain may be of some benefit to the Society. 

As the making of Butter is an object of considerable importance to fanners, 
andVherever a Dairy is kept, any hints that may have a tendency to improve 
its quality must be of some benefit. We have heard great complaints from 
dairy women about their milk getting sour during a thunder storm, although 
perfectly sweet a short time previous. The following plans will prevent this 
in a great degree. All the pans containing the milk ought to be placed upon 
non-conductors of electricity, such as blocks of baked wood, pieces of glass, or 
wood that has been well painted and varnished. These are articles most ea- 
sily provided. Beeswax, feathers, and woollen cloth are also non-conductors, 
but inconvenient to be used. All these articles will insulate the pans and pre- 
vent the electric fluid from entering, which is the cause of acidity ; or is in 
fact, the principle of acidity itself. We think we have clearly shown this to 
be the case in a pamphlet that we published sometime ago. If glass basins 
were substituted for tin pans, the plan would be better still, and there would 
then be no necessity for the practice suggested above ; the glass would pre- 
serve the milk much longer sweet than pans, and the acid would have no effect 
upon it. We are not aware of any acid that has the least impression on glass, 
except the fluoric acid. All iron vessels, or vessels compounded of iron, as 
tin pans are, attract the heat very readily, and of course sour the milk ; and 
such is the aflinity of iron for an acid that we doubt much if it is ever washed 
out entirely. Iron vessels, we are confident, are the very worst that could 
be used for the purpose ; they are even inferior to wood. 

There is one objection against glass basins ; they will be liable to crack 
and break by scalding. But their many good qualities overbalance this de- 
fect, and in steady, careful hands, this also might be obviated. We have 
known some people wash common glass bottles for a great length of time 
without doing them any injury. The glass basins might be made of the same 
material as common black glass bottles, and the advantages in their fovor 
would be these : they would retain the milk longer sweet ; they would be 
very easily washed, as the acid never enters the glass at all ; they would last 
much longer than tin pans, as the acid soon corrodes the latter. The origin- 
al cost of a glass basin, we should think, would be but very little more than 
that of pans. Should this plan be adopted, we should think it would prove a 
considerable improvement. An experiment might easily be made on a small 
scale, as it would only cost a dollar or two, and as such we respectfully re- 
commend it to the attention of the society. 



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